The moment Ayaan left the office, carrying the empty tray and his small, shy smile, the air inside Malhotra Enterprises changed.
It wasn't obvious at first , just a whisper through the halls, a sense that something unusual had occurred.
After all, nobody ever walked out of the CEO's office looking that… happy.
Meera was the first to notice. She was pretending to check some files when Ayaan passed by.
"Uh… thank you for the delivery!" she said with a polite smile.
Ayaan turned slightly, his tone casual. "Anytime."
But his cheeks were a little pink.
That was enough for Meera. She stood frozen, a folder in her hands, watching the door close behind him.
'Wait a second… no one leaves his office smiling. Not even Mr. Chopra from Legal, and he's married to an actual saint.'
A soft gasp escaped her before she slapped a hand over her mouth.
"No… it can't be…"
Inside, Rudra sat at his desk again, trying to look normal.
He'd straightened his tie three times. His reflection in the black laptop screen looked calm, but his ears were still a faint shade of red.
He reached for his coffee, the one Ayaan had brought and took a sip.
Too sweet. Way too sweet.
And yet, somehow, it didn't taste bad at all.
He set it down slowly.
His pulse refused to calm.
What did I just do…? In my office, of all places…
A knock interrupted his thoughts.
Meera stepped in carefully, looking oddly nervous.
"Yes?" Rudra asked, his usual deep tone returning — cold, clipped, the perfect CEO mask sliding back into place.
She blinked rapidly. "Um—sir, I just wanted to confirm—was that delivery… satisfactory?"
Rudra looked up, eyes narrowing slightly.
"…It was fine."
"Ah," she said too quickly, pretending to write something on her clipboard. "I see. Just… checking for quality control. You know. Quality. Of… cupcakes."
Rudra stared. "…Get back to work, Meera."
"Right away, sir!" she squeaked, fleeing the room, her mind racing.
The moment she reached the corridor, she stopped and whispered under her breath,
"I knew it. The delivery guy isn't just a delivery guy. And I swear Mr. Malhotra smiled."
She nearly fainted at her own words.
"Wait till lulu hears about this…" ,
(Lulu is her cat😊)
That night, Rudra sat in his apartment, staring at his phone.
The city outside glowed silver under the rain. The apartment was quiet.... too quiet.
He should've been working, but his thoughts kept drifting back to that moment in his office.
The soft touch.
The kiss.
The way Ayaan's eyes had widened like he couldn't believe it happened.
Rudra sighed and leaned back on the couch, running a hand through his hair.
He'd promised himself not to text first tonight.
He needed to look composed. Normal.
But his thumb hovered over the screen anyway.
After several failed attempts at writing something casual, he gave up and typed one simple line:
Rudra: You left without finishing your coffee.
He stared at it for thirty seconds. Then added another:
Rudra: …It got cold.
Almost instantly, three dots appeared.
Then—
Ayaan: (laughing emoji) Did you just text me about coffee, Mr. Malhotra?
Rudra exhaled, typing back quickly.
Rudra: You made it. I was commenting on its… quality.
Ayaan: Mm. Quality control again?
Rudra's lips twitched despite himself.
Then Ayaan sent another message, softer this time:
Ayaan: You seemed tired today. I hope you ate.
Rudra hesitated. Then, breaking his own rule again, typed:
Rudra: I did. And… thank you. For earlier.
A long pause.
Then his phone buzzed again.
Ayaan: For what?
Rudra's hand stilled over the keyboard. He typed, deleted, typed again.
Then finally sent—
Rudra: For making it hard to breathe.
A minute passed. No reply.
He groaned softly, covering his face.
What was that supposed to mean?
But then the screen lit up again.
Ayaan: …Good. Because you do that to me too.
Rudra froze, heart skipping.
He typed only one word back before turning off the lights and sinking deeper into the couch, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
Rudra: Sleep.
But long after midnight, both of them were still awake — hearts restless, screens glowing softly in the dark.
The café was finally empty. The chairs were stacked neatly on the tables, the faint smell of coffee lingering in the air, mixing with the soft aroma of pastries. The golden evening light filtered through the windows, painting everything in a calm, comforting glow.
Rudra pushed the door open quietly. The small bell chimed, and Ayaan looked up from wiping down the counter.
Rudra's presence caught him by surprise. "Rudra…? It's late…" His voice was soft, carrying worry he didn't try to hide.
Rudra gave a short nod, silent. His usual commanding aura seemed muted, replaced by something softer, quieter. His coat was slightly rumpled, and the lines of fatigue were visible on his face.
Ayaan didn't move immediately. Instead, he studied him silently, noticing the subtle slump in his shoulders, the way his hands were loosely clenched at his sides.
Rudra walked toward his usual corner, not saying a word. Ayaan instinctively set the rag down, following him.
"You've had a long day," Ayaan said gently, "you should sit… rest for a bit."
Rudra hesitated, then allowed himself to sink into the chair. His eyes softened slightly, but he didn't look away from the table, almost like he was holding back some storm inside.
Ayaan crouched slightly to set a small cup of coffee in front of him. "Here… you need this," he said softly. His fingers brushed Rudra's hand briefly as he passed the cup, and Rudra's chest tightened at the warmth.
Rudra's usual calm, untouchable demeanor was slipping. His lips twitched as if to speak, but only a faint sigh escaped. Ayaan smiled faintly, sensing the tension he carried, the walls he never let anyone breach.
"It's been… a lot," Rudra admitted finally, his voice low and clipped, though not harsh. Even in confession, he kept his composure.
Ayaan nodded, reaching gently to place a hand over Rudra's. "I know," he whispered, warmth spreading through his touch. "But you don't have to carry it alone… not here, not with me."
Rudra looked at him, really looked at him, and for the first time in months, he felt a small crack in his armor. His heart betrayed him before his mind could catch up.
"I… don't know how to stop," he muttered, voice almost breaking.
Ayaan's thumb brushed lightly over the back of his hand. "You don't have to stop. You can let me in… a little."
Rudra swallowed hard, the familiar walls he built around himself shaking just enough to let the warmth in. His eyes flickered to Ayaan's, then to their touching hands. He allowed himself a small, shaky smile.
A quiet moment passed. No words were needed. The silence was heavy with comfort, warmth, and the lingering memory of their first kiss, the way it had made his chest race and his mind go blank.
Finally, Ayaan leaned a little closer, just enough that his shoulder brushed Rudra's. Rudra's hand tightened around his own, the heat from the contact spreading through him. Neither moved to pull away.
"Rudra," Ayaan whispered softly, "you're home now. Just… breathe."
Rudra nodded, closing his eyes for a brief moment. His usual control had loosened, replaced by the quiet intimacy of being with someone who cared for him unconditionally.
To be continued...